Chocolate can be healthful — just don't live on it

Q: You are irresponsible to suggest that chocolate has health benefits — it is high in calories and full of fat and sugar. Anyone who eats chocolate should not be kidding himself that it's good for him.

A: Chocolate candy has a lot of calories, but we disagree that there are no health benefits. Research keeps reinforcing the ability of cocoa flavonoids to lower blood pressure, make blood vessels more flexible and prevent blood clots.

A new study from the Netherlands demonstrates that older men who ate chocolate were 50 percent less likely to die of a heart attack during the 15-year follow-up (Archives of Internal Medicine, Feb. 27, 2006).

Cholesterol drugs affecting hair color

Q: I have read that cholesterol-lowering drugs might affect hair color. My hair has been white for years. Since I started taking Zetia, I have noticed that it has turned steel gray, with black mixed in.

A: We have not been able to find any scientific documentation on this. But we have heard from readers who have reported that their hair has become darker while they were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Is it a vitamin deficiency?

Q: I am a diabetic, and I'm afraid I'm missing something in my diet. My hair is rapidly falling out, and my nails refuse to grow. I take insulin and metformin for diabetes, atenolol and HCTZ for blood pressure, lovastatin for cholesterol and Prilosec for reflux. Could any of them be contributing to this problem?

A: You might be deficient in vitamin B-12. While hair loss is not the most serious sign of vitamin B-12 deficiency, it is one possible result. Your diabetes medicine metformin (found in ACTOplus Met, Avandamet, Glucophage, Glucovance) and your reflux drug omeprazole (Prilosec) could both contribute to lower levels of vitamin B-12.

Other symptoms to watch for: anemia, fatigue, unsteadiness, nerve damage (burning, tingling, weakness or numbness in hands or feet), depression or mental confusion.

Ask your doctor to test your B-12 and methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels. You might need vitamin injections to get you back in balance.

Q: My pet potbellied pig, Bradford, was down for six weeks with a disk problem in his back. A friend recommended giving him curcumin pills and he's been a happy, pain-free pig ever since.

I have another pig, Snippet, with arthritic front feet who is getting turmeric daily and shows improvement. Have you ever heard of using turmeric or curcumin for animal pain relief?

A: We don't know anything about pig medicine, but we hear from many humans that turmeric, or its active ingredient curcumin, can be helpful as an anti-inflammatory.

Turmeric is the yellow spice in curry powder and mustard. Scientists have shown that curcumin has antioxidant potential. They are investigating whether it might have benefit in helping to prevent arthritis, cancer and possibly even Alzheimer's disease.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them c/o King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10019, or e-mail them at pharmacy@mindspring.com or via their Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.org